(CNN) – Seeking to ignite congressional movement on immigration reform, President Obama said Monday he expects the Senate to take significant action on the issue next month.

"I expect a bill to be put forward. I expect the debate to begin next month. I want to sign that bill into law as soon as possible," Obama said at a naturalization ceremony at the White House.Follow @politicalticker

"We are making progress, but we've got to finish the job," Obama said.

"Everyone pretty much knows what's broken. Everybody knows how to fix it," he also said. "We've all proposed solutions and we've got a lot of white papers and studies, we've just got, at this point, to work up the political courage to do what's required to be done."

The remarks followed a swearing-in ceremony for 28 service members–13 of whom are active duty–in the East Room of the White House. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was also on hand to administer the oath.

"Immigration makes us stronger," Obama also said at the 25-minute event, attended by about 200 friends and family members of those being sworn in.

"It keeps us vibrant, it keeps us hungry, it keeps us prosperous. It is part of what makes this such a dynamic country. If we want to keep attracting the best and the brightest that the world has to offer then we need to do a better job of welcoming them," he added.

soundoff(45 Responses)

Rudy NYC

Did you hear all of the right wing calls for the President to "lead" on the issue of immigration reform? Those same voices would then tell you that "Republicans are taking the lead" on immigration reform because the President "refuses to do it." It's like nothing moves forward until Republicans decide that they're ready to move forward, after having blocked progress for weeks, months and years on issues. Suddenly, they're the leaders on the isse because it is politically expedient to support an issue that they had previously opposed, and secretly still do.

March 25, 2013 01:02 pm at 1:02 pm |

Thomas

Could we go to war in a few more countries , we need more refugeis here in San Diego Ca, five hundred thousand Iraqi's , Two hundred thousand somalian's .

How about a few hundred thousand North Koreans.

March 25, 2013 01:03 pm at 1:03 pm |

GonzoinHouston

Immigration reform and gay marriage are suddenly moving forward, and some trivial level of gun control still has a chance. With all this and the 2012 victories, the demmies feel like their on a roll! At this point I would offer some advice first given to me by a wise old uncle "the good times only last until you take them for granted". By compromising on the above bills the GOP is gradually moving back towards the center. At the same time, Obama is trying to maximize the visible effects of the sequester, and he may be over-doing it. If the demmies think they can lurch as far to the left as they please and just assume that the GOP will keep them in power by being stupid, then the demmies will be taking their good times for granted. Be careful, be smart, and work hard, guys, 'cuz a big 2014 victory is by no means guaranteed

March 25, 2013 01:10 pm at 1:10 pm |

Donna

"Immigration makes us stronger," Obama also said at the 25-minute event, attended by about 200 friends and family members of those being sworn in.
"It keeps us vibrant, it keeps us hungry, it keeps us prosperous. It is part of what makes this such a dynamic country. If we want to keep attracting the best and the brightest that the world has to offer then we need to do a better job of welcoming them," he added.
=================

Obama is very deceitful. The invasion of this country by millions of poor and uneducated illegal aliens is being equated to legal immigration by educated immigrants. Obama and the Democrats are as dishonest as they come. Nobody opposes LEGAL immigration. Alost all Americans oppose the illegal invasion of their country by millions of illegal aliens. We should enact the very same laws that Mexico has, which are very harsh. Why does MExico expect the USA to keep borders open so their entire population can end up here eventually?

March 25, 2013 01:13 pm at 1:13 pm |

Tea Party Thomas

Don't reward illegals for breaking our laws. Deport them.

March 25, 2013 01:20 pm at 1:20 pm |

James Bond

Well said gonzo, all too true, look at obamacare, that is how the teaparty got into power, and i dont like the dems acting like repubs, drama, scare tactics, why follow a strategy that proved fruitless, and lose what little credibility you had, and the repubs can toot the gay is good horn all they want, until i see them actually vote, same old baitt and switch, they will find an excuse to not vote for it, at the last minute, then blame its failure on the dems, they make me sick

March 25, 2013 01:35 pm at 1:35 pm |

James Bond

Donna, i cant believe how close i am to agreeing with you, i gotta get some air, but you did seem to forget that bush opened the door, so to speak, so agricultural regions get cheap labor, whew, that was a close one!

March 25, 2013 01:39 pm at 1:39 pm |

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA

Tea Party Thomas
Don't reward illegals for breaking our laws. Deport them.
-------------------------------------------------
FYI, you can call the President the Deporter In Chief because he's sure sent a lot of people packing.

March 25, 2013 01:41 pm at 1:41 pm |

James Bond

And the repubs have absolutely no intension on passing a favorable law, they know they cant con these people into voting for them so seriously doubt they will vote for amnesty, or any other alien friendly bill. never gonna happen

March 25, 2013 01:43 pm at 1:43 pm |

James Bond

I do like hearing the repubs trying to convince the latinos they are whats best for them, funny shiz, cant make this stuff up.they like your cheap labor, but giving you rights, well, theres a problem now

March 25, 2013 01:47 pm at 1:47 pm |

James Bond

We love you all, gays, seniors, latinos, poor, why wont you vote for us? they work for one group, and were not in it, how do they hold on to power? vote out the repubs while you still can, straight dem ticket 14

March 25, 2013 01:51 pm at 1:51 pm |

Tommy Boy

I love that this man has all of these social issues to hide behind. How about a budget, President Obama? That the bull by the horns and lock house republicans and senate democrats in the same room together until they come to some sort of agreement... That would be just swell...

March 25, 2013 02:06 pm at 2:06 pm |

Sniffit

"Obama is trying to maximize the visible effects of the sequester, and he may be over-doing it."

There is no way for Obama to do so. The sequester is what it is: indiscriminate, across-the-board cuts that allow for almost ZERO discretion in how they affect the programs they are enacted upon. He doesn't get to say "do it here but not there." That's not how it works, and the GOP/Teatroll talking points that pretend it is how it works are nothing more than dishonesty and misrepresentations.

March 25, 2013 02:07 pm at 2:07 pm |

Blah blah the wheel's off your trailer

Remember the debt ceiling compromise in 2011 that averted a government shutdown? Well, following the vote to avert a government shutdown, Eric Cantor and the tea party fough with Paul Ryan and tried to retract their vote, citing that their compromise may have paved the way for the President's re-election. Remember the Affordable Care Act in 2010? Well, following the nationally televised healthcare debate, Eric Cantor and other key republicans claimed that President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi were only trying to set a legacy for themselves. That is as though candidate Obama hadn't meet with scores of Americans as he campaigned across the country in 2008 and listened to their horror stories of love ones being discriminated against and denied healthcare because of pre-existing conditions or stories of how Americans were struggling to pay a mortgage and send their kids off to college and still have to deal with skyrocketing healthcare costs. Well, I wonder what would be the GOPT's position when a votes comes up on immigration reform and their inner voice withing tells them that the President may have "set another legacy" with comprehensive immigration reform.??????????????????????????????????????. Perhaps time would tell!

March 25, 2013 02:10 pm at 2:10 pm |

Sniffit

"'cuz a big 2014 victory is by no means guaranteed"

Actually, it already pretty much is when you look at 2012 and the continuing demographic shifts. Dems won the House by 1.3M votes in 2012, but the GOP/Teatrolls kept control of it via gerrymandering. Being a mid-term, 2014 will likely still see 1M or so votes more for Dems running for the House, but the GOP/Teatrolls still in control becuase they effectively gerrymandered to suppress the majority's will and essentially disenfranchise millions of voters.

March 25, 2013 02:10 pm at 2:10 pm |

Rudy NYC

Donna wrote:

...Obama is very deceitful. The invasion of this country by millions of poor and uneducated illegal aliens is being equated to legal immigration by educated immigrants.....
------------
You should review Ronald Reagan's immigration policies. While you're at it, check out the history of the IRS form I-9, which both Bush's enacted policies to render it inert.

March 25, 2013 02:14 pm at 2:14 pm |

David Mack

As a dying war veteran who is still fighting the VA for treatment .I am so proud of the president who cares so much about illegals and sit quietly why we war veterans are dying due to no fault of our own .

March 25, 2013 02:15 pm at 2:15 pm |

cp

Obama is the ruination of this country.

March 25, 2013 02:15 pm at 2:15 pm |

David Mack

20,000 veterans died last year while begging the VA for help –WHAT ABOUT US MR. PRESIDENT

March 25, 2013 02:18 pm at 2:18 pm |

JWHARGIS

I am sure Obama expects allot of things, like turning the United States into Sodom and Gomorrah, hope it doesn't happen, that the people wake up.

What he means by "it makes us stronger" is the democratic power. It doesn't have anything to do with the middle class of this country. Just causes more problems with health care and language barrier. It's all about how the Dems can get more votes.

March 25, 2013 02:21 pm at 2:21 pm |

Bob

I expect America to have a competent, decent president. I guess we don't always get what we expect.

March 25, 2013 02:22 pm at 2:22 pm |

The Dude

It's really a stupidly simple idea: Give illegals a path to citizenship and you will have a new source of tax revenue. Of course if they get rich they will have the opportunity to shelter their income and pay no taxes. Isn't America great!

March 25, 2013 02:23 pm at 2:23 pm |

The Dude

@ David Mack

The problems with the VA go back to the Bush administration not planning for the costs of treating the wounded. Hell, they didn't even plan for the costs of the war. Thank you for your service and I hope you get the care you deserve.